About “Are You That Somebody?”

The unusual, stuttering beat of this 1998 single recorded for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack received great acclaim for emphasizing Aaliyah’s vocal prowess, eventually earning the song a Grammy nomination. Stepping away from her accustomed smoother, balad-like tunes and tones allowed Aaliyah to all the more fully display her exceptional feeling for rhythm and musical sensibility.

Two versions of the music video exist, the one with extracts from Dr. Dolittle being the most widespread (and the third most-played on MTV that year). But both feature the clip’s most recognizable characteristics: the futuristic entry into a cave (in L.A.’s Griffith Park), Playa on the background during Timbo’s rap, and Aaliyah’s range of dancing styles—including a short yet sweeping flamenco at the end.

As The Rolling Stone Album Guidenotes, Timbaland’s innovative beats challenged Aaliyah rather than cradling her voice as R. Kelly’s did. With a blooming new personality infused into her music accompanied by entirely committed vocals, it is not difficult to see why the release of this hit “remains one of ‘90s’ R&B’s most astounding moments,” or how it inspired artists such as Beyoncé. Regardless of the successes of 21st-century R&B, however, “Are You That Somebody” forms a legacy of its own and continues to impress as modern musical creativity complimenting an unforgettable artist’s talents.

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